Evaluating roadway network efficiency using archived link travel speed data

Abstract

An evaluation of the roadway network efficiency is typically conducted by applying the two-fluid model, a macroscopic traffic flow model. This model generally requires two types of travel time data – running and stop times – for links, and these data are usually obtained by deploying a small number of test cars. Unlike this practice, this study utilizes archived link travel speed data which do not contain running and stop times. Because of this aspect, this study suggests an analytical framework, including a simple process of estimating running and stop times from average link travel speed. In addition, of the two two-fluid model parameters, only one parameter n is used for comparison purposes by fixing the other parameter Tm. A case study using Seoul network indicates that the network efficiency varies across the metropolitan area and that the network efficiency of core areas is superior to that of the other areas.